Replies

1. 
   ClaysWorld | Jul 12, 2006 09:48pm | #1

   Hmmmmm you might not want to hear what I have to say? But here goes anyway.

   Awhile back had a friend that had a rental with a similar problem.

   What was the real problem? Drain wasn't hooked up to the sewer. It just went out in the back yard. And yep the washroom was a add on.

1. 
   MBaybut | Jul 12, 2006 10:16pm | #2

   You know, that did cross my mind. I was a bit puzzled because where I estimate the blockage to be seems to be way past were you would expect the tie in to be. Eye balling the original stack vent on the roof.Presuming the main would take a directly straight line to the sewer. But on second thoughts why would they run the drain anywhere, why not just directly into the ground.
   Mike

1. 
   Dinosaur | Jul 12, 2006 10:41pm | #3

   In the old days, it wasn't uncommon in some parts to run 'grey water' sources such as laundry, bath, and shower waste to a french drain weeping into the back or front yard, while the nasty stuff from toilets and kitchen sinks went into the septic tank or muny sewer connection.

   I don't think that's permitted in most places now but old habits die hard....Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

2. 
   ClaysWorld | Jul 12, 2006 11:55pm | #4

   I think the dirt is a bit of a tell. Not wishing for the worst but could be.

   Then if it's better but still bad the slab dropped/settled and it separated the ? cast iron/PVC/abs? at a joint or just split it.

   Did it used to work ok? and if it did can you check to see if it was draining into your yard or maybe a runoff drain.

    I feel you pain, it's just not going to cost me as much this time around.

2. 
   bldrbill | Jul 12, 2006 11:58pm | #5

   As others have noted, the drain  is probably going into the ground.  Mine was that way and the ground would absorb the water from one wash load.  But if you washed another load right behind the first, the ground would be saturated and the water would back up.  It took me awhile to figure that out.  I had to dig it all up and hook the washer drain into the septic tank to fix the problem.

1. 
   MBaybut | Jul 13, 2006 12:21am | #6

   The addition was built at a lower level, 6" or so. I can see the drain pipe under the shallow crawl space, it's at grade level. It exits out the side of the addition just below the brick patio. I popped a couple of bricks up and managed to find it under about 4" of base material, (sand/gravel mix). I think what I'll do is just keep popping the bricks up, dig down and follow it to see where it ends up. The drain was working fine until about a week ago. To add insult to injury I tried useing one of those balloon things that you attach to the end of a hose to blow clear a blockage, well, I could hear the thing straining to clear what ever it was and I guess the pressure built up so much, it blew off the end of the hose fitting with the balloon still attached, pulled the hose back with nothing on the end of it. So that's still in there. I'll have to trace that back and see where that ended up.
   Thanks for your advice.
   Mike